Jose Mourinho incredibly pleaded with his own supporters to stop berating ex-Benfica star Enzo Fernandez during their clash with Chelsea.

The Argentinian midfielder ruined his relationship with the Lisbon-based side when he forced a move to the Premier League in 2023 worth some £106million.

Benfica’s Champions League clash with the Blues on Tuesday saw Fernandez face his former club for the first time since his departure – and there was certainly no love lost between him and the travelling Benfica support.

Such was proven shortly before half-time when Fernandez strolled towards the away end to take a corner, only to be met by a barrage of abuse.

The Benfica fans hurled drinks bottles and other items at the midfielder amid desperate pleas from Jose Mourinho to stop.

The Portuguese boss, making his return to west London, even left his technical area to bound towards the away support and signal for them to end their merciless targeting of Fernandez.

After briefly delaying his corner, the Chelsea skipper on the night eventually escaped the abuse as he jogged away.

Fernandez left the Eagles two and a half years ago after just three months with the club, in a move which left a particularly bitter taste in the mouths of Portuguese fans.

Shortly after his departure was confirmed, Benfica president Rui Costa gave a scathing account of his conduct at the club.

‘Enzo Fernandez did not want to stay at Benfica. He didn’t give us any chance,’ the former Portugal international said.

‘I did my best, I’m sad, but I’m not going to cry for a player who didn’t want to stay. When Chelsea arrived, it was really impossible to change his mind.

‘During deadline day we found an agreement to sell Enzo to Chelsea in the summer but he didn’t want to stay.

‘From the moment Enzo realised (Chelsea would pay) the value of the clause it was unrelenting. We tried to insist, but the player did not show any openness to continuing at Benfica.

‘I proposed to Chelsea that he stay until the summer for a lower value, but the player did not want to continue at Benfica – and this is when everything changed.’

On a night billed as the return of the Special One to a club where he was so successful, Mourinho’s side made a bright start to Tuesday’s Champions League tie squandering a few early chances.

However an own goal from Richard Rios put the hosts ahead on 17 minutes, a lead they held on to until the final whistle to win 1-0. It was far from an entertaining affair, but a much-needed win for Enzo Maresca nonetheless.

Mourinho made a return to Benfica, where he began his coaching journey, a couple of weeks ago after being dismissed by Fenerbahce.

His side headed into the fixture against Chelsea unbeaten under the experienced 62-year-old.